Steering control means for inboardoutboard drives



June 9, 1964 D. F. MCCORMICK STEERING CONTROL MEANS FOR INBOARD-OUTBOARD DRIVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1962 INVENTOR. DANIEL F MCCORMICK findrus f Sim-Ire Attorneys June 9, 1964 MCCORMICK 3,136,283

STEERING CONTROL MEANS FOR INBOARD-OUTBOARD DRIVES Filed July 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. D ANIEL E MCCORMICK jlmlrus f' Star-Ire Attorneys United States. Patent 3,136,283 STEERING CONTROL MEANS FOR INBOARD- OUTBOARD DRIVES Daniel F. McCormick, Fond du Lac, Wis., assignor to Kiekhaefer Corporation, Cedarburg, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 13, 1962, Ser. No. 209,674

6 Claims. (Cl. 115-35) This invention relates to the steering control means for an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft.

The outboard drive unit of inboard-outboard drives commonly pivot on a generally vertical swivel axis for steering. Generally the steering is controlled from a.

' not only takes time, but also may require tools which may or may not be handy, and may involve certain other difllculties. It is generally an object of this invention to provide a steering arrangement for outboard drive units wherein a disconnection of the steering mechanism is unnecessary when it is desired to invert the drive unit by rotation in a transverse vertical plane.

According to this invention, the outboard drive or propulsion unit is pivotally supported by a support housing structure on a generally vertical axis for steering. The support housing structure includes a forwardly extending cylindrical portion which is adapted to be received within an opening in the transom and is releasably secured therein. Means are provided to rotate the support housing structure withinthe opening to rotate the drive unit in a transverse vertical plane to invert the unit when desired. A steering arm is disposed within the cylindrical portion of the support structure and projects inboardly of the watercraft. The arm is pivotal on a generally vertical axis to actuate a linkage arrangement connected to the outboard drive unit to effect steering and is also rotatable with the drive unit and support housing in atransverse-verti-f cal plane. A flexible push-pull cable operated by a steer-- ing wheel or the like from a remote location in the watercraft is adapted to actuate a telescoping mechanism. One

element of the telescoping mechanism comprises a rigid tubular extension of the push-pull cable casing-and is uni-' versally supported from the transom of the watercraft. The other element of the telescoping mechanism comprises a rigid tubular member fastened to the push-pull cable core wire and is universally connected tothe free end of the steering arm. Relative slidable movement between the elements as effected by the push-pull cable actuates the steering arm to effect steering control of the propulsion unit. Upon rotation of the steering arm with the support housing and propulsion unit in a transverse vertical plane when desired, the core wire is movable Within the pushpull cable to accommodate relative movement between tioned to showthe steering mechanism for the outboard drive unit;

3,136,283 Patented June 9, 1964 board-outboard drive showing generally the arrangement for remotely actuating the steering mechanism for the drive unit, and

FIG. 5 is a view taken generally on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and in phantom lines illustrates the effect inversion of the drive unit imparts on the steering arrangement of the unit. 7

Referring to the drawings, the inboard-outboard drive includes a propulsion unit 1 suspended from the transom 2 of a partially shown boat or other watercraft 3. The propulsion unit 1 includes a propeller 4 which is driven by the engine 5 mounted inboard of the boat to be propelled.

The propeller 4 of the propulsion unit 1 is carried by the generally horizontal propeller shaft 6 which is driven through beveled gears 7 and 8 by the generally vertical drive shaft 9 rotatably supported within housing 10 of the propulsion unit. A pair of vertically spaced beveled gears 11 and 12, one of which is a forward gear and the other a reverse gear, are mounted in suitable bearings and are freely rotatable on the upper end of shaft 9. The drive gear 13 the axis of which is disposed generally horizontally, drivingly engagesthe beveled gears 11 and 12 and The drive gear 13 is driven by engine Sthrough the I generally horizontal drive connection including axially spaced and aligned shaft members 15 and 16 which are cormected by the double universal joint 17 disposed generally. at the intersection of the generally transverse verticaland horizontal planes respectively containing the swivel and tilt'axes of the propulsion unit;

The suspension means for the propulsion unit 1 includes a housing member 18 comprising a forwardly extending cylindrical steering lever housing 19 and a rearwardly extending bell-shaped housing 20 which are separated .by a" partition wall 21 having an opening 22 centrallythereof through which the horizontal drive shaft 16 extends. The

cylindrical steering lever housing 19 is slidably and 'rotatably received within the I stepped transomopening 23 formed'in the telescopingly related outer plate 24 and inner plate 25 securedto the transom 2 of the watercraft. Hous-- ing 19extends through the opening 23 and intoith'e watercraft and the nut'member 26 is threaded on the. forward end thereof and is adapted to draw and-rigidly secure or clamphousing member 18 into its forwardmost normal running position. l The housing 10 of. the propulsion or drive unit 1 is pivotally supported from 'an intermediate gimbal ring member 27 on'a generally transverse horizontal axis indicated at 28 to provide for tilt movements of the drive unit in agenerally vertical plane. The gimbal ring member 27 is inturn pivotally supported from housing member 18 on a generally vertical axis'providedby the:-vertigenerally horizontal plane;

.. Steering control movement of the'gimbal ring member 27 together with the drive unit 1 is effected by the lever arm 31 which projects from the steering lever. housing 19 into the watercraft." Arm 31 is fixedly secured on the ably supported in the boss 33 projecting forwardly from a the partition wall '21 offset outwardly from opening 22 within lever housing 19. The lower end of shaft 32 extends intothe chamber 34 beneath theadrivecshaft 16 in the lower portion of housing 19 and carries the crank arm 35 within the chamber. A linkage member 36 extends through opening 37 in the partition wall 21 between the lever housing 19 and the bell-shaped housing 24) and is pivotally connected to the gimbal ring member 27 and connection from lever arm 31. v.

As shown generally in FIGS. 3 and 5, the drive unit 1 is also rotatable for movement in a generally transverse vertical plane to an inverted position for beaching or repair. The' described inversion of, the drive unit 1 is effected by counterclockwise rotation of housing member 18, as viewed in FIG. 5, within transom opening 23 by the crank arm 35 respectively to complete the steeringmeans not forming a part of the present invention. As

shown in FIG. 5,'the steering lever arm 31 is displaced substantially 180 as the arm rotates concentrically about shaft 16 together with housing member 18 to effect drive v unit inversion;

The steering means not requiring a disconnection from the drive unit during inversion of the unit includes the telescopingly related tubular members 38 and 39. Tubular member 38'constitutes' an extension of the core wire 4%) of steering control cable 41 and the free end thereof is pivotally secured within yoke member 42 on the steering lever arm 31. The yoke member 42 is pivotally secured to arm 31 on anaxis generally normal to the pivot axis of tubular member 38 so that the end of the tubular member is universally connected to the steering lever arm 31. 1 v

The tubular member 38 is slidable within the tubular Steering control for drive unit 1 is provided by actuation'of the core wire 40 of cable 41 to move tubular mem--- ber 38 axially'relative tomember 39 and thereby actuate the steering lever arm 31 correspondingly.

Steering movement of the lever-arm 31 is controlled through: cable 41 from a remote location within the watercraft 3 by a steering wheel 46 or the like which ro tates' the:steering shaft 47 in the desired manner. The

.shaft 47 carries the gear t-8 which meshes witha rack 49 slidably disposed in the gear housing 50; The steering: cable 41 extends to the housingitl anda cable coupler;

element '51 fixedly secures the cable casing 43 relative to the housing. The cable core wire 49 extendsthrough the coupler element 51 and is secured to the rack 49; 'Thus,

movements of rack 49 as efifected by operation of the steer-- ing wheel "46 actuates the Cable'core wire 40 and thereby controls the steering movement of lever arm 31. 1

When the drive unit 1 is rotated in its generally transverse vertical pathto eifect inversion of the unit, the

lever: arm 31- is correspondingly rot'ated'on the opposite side of shaft 16 andalso assumes an invertedposition.v

Theyoke'member 42 and yoke bracket- 44 connected to the lever arm 31 andxtransom plate 45 respectively, are

adapted'to pivot'relative to the, corresponding member 'to accommodate the movement of the arm into the in-' verted position. Inversion of arm'31 also produces a constantly changingefiective length of the telescoping mechanism as generallyshown inFIG. 5. To accommodate the changes ineffective length of the telescoping mechanism, the cable core wire 40 is free to move within casing 43 and such movement is simply fed back or reflected in corresponding movements of steering wheel 46 The 1nvention therefore provides steering control mean:

for an outboard drive unit which is fully capable of accommodating an inversion of the drive unit in a trans verse vertical path without a disconnection from the unit.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subjcct matter which is regarded as the invention.

1 claim: v

1. In combination with an outboard propulsion unit for driving a watercraft, said propulsion unit being pivotally carried on a generally vertical axis for steering by support means mounted on the transom of V the watercraft and being rotatable in a transverse vertical plane with said support means to an inverted position; a steering arm for the propulsion unit carried by the support means and being rotatable therewith; and means for actuating said arm from a remote location in the watercraft to efiFect steering control ofthe propulsion unit and comprising apair of telescopingly related elements, means universally connecting one end ofone of said elements to the steering arm, means universally connecting the other element to the transom of the watercraft, whereby telescoping movements of said elements eiiects pivotal steering movement of said arnnand push-pull means to actuate the telescoping elements; said means for. actuating said steering arm being freely movable by said arm to accommodate movement of therarm during rotation of the propulsion unit in the transverse vertical plane. a

member'39 whichconstitutes an extension of the casing c 43 of the steering cable 41. The tubular member 39'is pivotally secured within the, yoke bracket 44inounted 2. In combination with an outboard propulsion unit forxdriving a Watercraft, said propulsion unit being pivotally carried on a generally vertical axis for steering by support meansmounted on the transom of the watercraft and being rotatable in a transverse vertical plane with said support means to an inverted position; a steering arm forjthe propulsion unitpivotally carried bythe support means and being rotatable therewith; and means for actuating said arm from a remote location in the watercraft to efiect steering control of the propulsion unit and comprising a pair of telescopingiyrelated elements, means universally connectingoneend of one of said elements to, the steering arm, means universally connecting the other element to the transom of the watercraft, whereby telescoping movements of said; elements effectspivotalsteen ing movement of said arm, a rack member reciprocally disposedwithin a housing at a location in the Watercraft remote from the, propulsion unit, agear in meshing en-f gagement with the rack member, means to rotate the gear,

flexible push-pull means comprising a casing and a movable core wiretherewithin, means connecting the ends of the casing, of said push-pull means to the telescoping; 7 element connected to the transom and the rack'member housing respectively, and means connecting the ends of,

the movable core wire roof the push-pull meansto the, telescoping element connected to the steering arm and the rack member respectively, said gear being rotatable to correspondingly actuate the core wire of the push-pull means and thereby provide for steeringcontrol of the propulsion unit, andsaid gear and the means for rotating same being freely rotatable by movement of'said core 7 wire as effected by the steering arm duringrotation oi the propulsion unitin a transverse vertical plane to, an inverted position. a i i t I 3. In a combination with an outboard propulsion unit for driving a watercrafn said propulsion unit being pivotally carried on a generally vertical axis for steeringby support means mounted on the transom of the watercraft and being rotatablein a transverse vertical plane with said support nieans'to an inverted" position; a steer-ing arm forthe propulsion unit pivotally carried by the sup: port means and being rotatable therewithg and 'means for actuating saidfarm from a remote location in the watercraft to effect steering control of the propulsion unit and [I comprising a pair of telescopingly related elements, means universally connecting one end of one of said elements I to t e steering arm, means universally connecting the other element to the transom of the watercraft, whereby telescoping movements of said elements effects pivotal steering movement of said arm, flexible push-pull means comprising a casing and a core wire therewithin, means connecting the casing of said push-pull means to the telescoping element connected to the transom, means connecting the core wire of the push-pull means to the telescoping element connected to the steering arm, and means to actuate the push-pull means to thereby actuate the telescoping elements; said means for actuating said steering arm being freely movable by said arm to accommodate movement of the arm during rotation of the propulsion unit in the transverse vertical plane to an inverted position.

4. In a combination with an outboard propulsion unit for driving a watercraft, said propulsion unit being pivotally carried on a generally vertical axis for steering by support means mounted on the transom and being driven by a generally horizontal shaft extending through said support means and being rotatable in a transverse vertical plane with said support means and relative to said shaft to a-generally inverted position, a steering arm for the propulsion unit pivotally carried by the support means and extending to the inside of the watercraft in ofiset relation from said shaft and being rotatable with the support means relative to said shaft with the arm moving on a given side of the shaft, and means to actuate said arm for steering control of the propulsion unit, said means to 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the means to actuate the steering arm includes a pair of telescopingly related elements, an end of one of said elements being universally connected to the steering arm and the other element being universally mounted on the transom.

6. In combination with an outboard propulsion unit for driving a watercraft; said propulsion unit being pivotally carried on a generally vertical axis for steering by support means mounted on the transom of the watercraft and being rotatable in a transverse vertical plane with said support means; means for pivoting the propulsion unit for steering control of the unit and extending through the support means and into the watercraft; said steering means being rotatable with said support means and propulsion unit; and means for actuating said steer ing means from a remote location in the watercraft and comprising a pair of telescopingly related elements, means universally connecting one end of one of said elements to the steering means, means universally connecting the other element to the transom of the watercraft, whereby telescoping movements of said elements effects steering control movement of said steering means, and push-pull means to actuate the telescoping elements; said means for actuating said steering means being freely movable by said steering means to accommodate movement of the steering means during rotation of the propulsion unit in the transverse vertical plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,908,243 Erickson Oct. 13, 1959 2,961,986 Rockhill Nov. 29, 1960 3,006,311 Hansson Oct. 31, 1961 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN OUTBOARD PROPULSION UNIT FOR DRIVING A WATERCRAFT, SAID PROPULSION UNIT BEING PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON A GENERALLY VERTICAL AXIS FOR STEERING BY SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE TRANSOM OF THE WATERCRAFT AND BEING ROTATABLE IN A TRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO AN INVERTED POSITION; A STEERING ARM FOR THE PROPULSION UNIT CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT MEANS AND BEING ROTATABLE THEREWITH; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID ARM FROM A REMOTE LOCATION IN THE WATERCRAFT TO EFFECT STEERING CONTROL OF THE PROPULSION UNIT AND COMPRISING A PAIR OF TELESCOPINGLY RELATED ELEMENTS, MEANS UNIVERSALLY CONNECTING ONE END OF ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS TO THE STEERING ARM, MEANS UNIVERSALLY CONNECTING THE OTHER ELEMENT TO THE TRANSOM OF THE WATERCRAFT, WHEREBY TELESCOPING MOVEMENTS OF SAI ELEMENTS EFFECTS PIVOTAL STEERING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM, AND PUSH-PULL MEANS TO ACTUATE THE TELESCOPING ELEMENTS; SAID MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID STEERING ARM BEING FREELY MOVABLE BY SAID ARM TO ACCOMMODATE MOVEMENT OF THE ARM DURING ROTATION OF THE PROPULSION UNIT IN THE TRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE. 